1. Overview of Han Market Da Nang
1.1. History of Formation and Development of Han Market Da Nang
Han Market is one of the oldest and most famous traditional markets in Da Nang. It is associated with the formation and development of the city's commerce. The market was formed in the 1940s when people began spontaneous trading along the Han River. Initially, the market was just a small trading area, mainly exchanging agricultural products, seafood, and daily necessities.
Thanks to its convenient location, situated between Tran Phu, Hung Vuong, and Bach Dang streets, Han Market quickly became a bustling commercial center. In 1989, the authorities proceeded to rebuild the market to meet the growing trading demands. The project was completed in 1990, coinciding with the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday on May 19th. The new market has two floors, an area of over 28,000 m², comprising hundreds of stalls and kiosks.
Through many upgrades, Han Market still retains its traditional character but is increasingly modern, clean, and convenient. Today, it is not only a familiar shopping destination for locals but also an attractive cultural and tourist destination in Da Nang.
1.2. Current Location and Scale of Han Market
Han Market is located at 119 Tran Phu Street, Hai Chau Ward, Da Nang City. This is the central location of the city, bordering four major streets including Tran Phu, Bach Dang, Hung Vuong, and Nguyen Thai Hoc. Being close to the Han River bridge and bustling commercial areas, the market has become an important trading point. It is also a familiar tourist spot for locals and visitors.
Han Market is visited by many tourists every day. (Source: Collected)
Currently, Han Market has a scale of about 28,000 m², built sturdily with two main floors. The 1st floor focuses on food items, dried seafood, specialty foods, and souvenirs. The 2nd floor mainly sells fabrics, clothing, handbags, and consumer goods. The entire market area has 576 stalls and 36 surrounding kiosks. With its large scale, convenient location, and diverse goods, Han Market is currently a prominent traditional shopping center of Da Nang. Modern architecture combined with a spacious area, airy walkways, and a scientific signage system helps locals and international tourists easily experience shopping.
2. What is attractive about Han Market Da Nang?
2.1. Outstanding market architectural space
Han Market possesses an architectural space that harmonizes tradition and modernity. With a total area of about 28,000 m², the market is sturdily built with two floors and hundreds of scientifically arranged stalls. The exterior architecture has a simple, familiar appearance, with a wide facade and many ventilation windows to utilize natural light, creating a cool and airy feeling.
Inside, the areas are clearly arranged by type of goods. The 1st floor has fresh food items, dried goods, seafood, and local specialties. The 2nd floor sells fabrics, clothing, shoes, handbags, and souvenirs. The corridors and walkways are spacious and clean, making it easy for customers to move around.
Inside Han Market, there is a clear division of goods areas. (Source: Collected)
The highlight of Han Market is its preservation of traditional trading characteristics within an increasingly modern space. The harmonious combination of convenient architecture, a friendly atmosphere, and local cultural characteristics makes this place one of the most attractive markets in Da Nang.
2.2. Cultural and Commercial Role of Han Market
Han Market plays an important role in the economic and cultural life of Da Nang residents. Commercially, it is a major trading center, supplying wholesale and retail goods to the city's residents and surrounding areas. The market offers a diverse range of goods, from food and dried seafood to local specialties, catering to daily needs and festive occasions.
Culturally, Han Market reflects the traditional lifestyle of Da Nang people through its trading methods, interactions, and cuisine. It is not only a shopping destination but also a place for tourists to learn about local life and experience the friendly, approachable nature of Central Vietnamese people. Currently, Han Market is being developed as a "tourist market", combining a modern commercial space with local cultural values, contributing to promoting the dynamic and hospitable image of Da Nang.
2.3. Main Areas and Featured Product Types
The ground floor of Han Da Nang Market features many stalls selling fresh food, and counters offering specialties such as fermented anchovy sauce (mam nem), dried squid, tre (pig ear salad), and sesame rice crackers (banh kho me). Additionally, there is a food court area with fast food and famous fruits of Central Vietnam. On the upper floor, visitors can find a world of clothing, various types of fabrics, handicrafts, fashion accessories, souvenirs, handmade jewelry, and items for international customers.
The highlight of Han Market is the diversity of local specialties. Fashion designs are always current, and the food area is clean. Many stalls clearly display prices, making it easy for buyers to choose, negotiate freely, or enjoy food directly at the counter.
3. What to Eat at Han Da Nang Market?
3.1. Top Traditional Dishes to Enjoy at Han Market
The food court of Han Da Nang Market is a convergence of many delicious dishes characteristic of Central Vietnam, with numerous attractive options. Mi Quang is a famous dish in Da Nang, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 VND for each bowl. The chewy noodles, rich broth, accompanied by shrimp, meat, and quail eggs create an unforgettable flavor.
Mi Quang is one of the must-try dishes at Cho Han. (Source: Collected)
Bun cha ca is also a favorite breakfast dish, priced from 25,000 to 40,000 VND per bowl. The sweet and clear broth, fresh fish combined with fresh herbs create a balanced and harmonious dish. The middle row on the ground floor is where crispy banh xeo is sold, with a beautiful golden crust, generous filling, served with fresh vegetables at prices ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 VND depending on the size.
Additionally, there is thick-noodle banh canh in the true Central Vietnam style, fresh goi cuon, fragrant nem lui, and rich bo la lot spread across the stalls. Near the Tran Phu entrance, you can easily find the area selling che and fruits. There are all kinds of Central Vietnamese che here, such as che bap, che dau, che suong sa hat luu, priced from 10,000 to 25,000 VND. These che dishes are very suitable for cooling down on hot days.
3.2. Famous specialties to buy as gifts at Cho Han Da Nang
Cho Han Da Nang impresses with its rich collection of specialties. Among them, mam nem is always at the top of the list for purchases. This condiment is characteristic of Central Vietnamese cuisine, easy to store cold, and convenient to carry far. Prices range from 40,000 to 80,000 VND per jar. When buying, visitors should prioritize products from reputable establishments with clear origins to ensure quality.
Next, visitors can choose banh kho me to buy as gifts. This is a fragrant sweet cake, securely packaged, making it a great gift. In Da Nang, it is often famous for the Ba Lieu Banh Kho Me brand. In addition, tre Da Nang is also a suggestion worth considering for visitors. This food item is carefully wrapped in banana leaves, can be preserved for 5 to 7 days, priced from 60,000 to 100,000 VND for each small roll. To enjoy the characteristic flavor, choose fresh tre rolls, with the outer wrapping not being moldy.
Additionally, you can easily buy cha bo, muc rim, and dried seafood that are vacuum-sealed, very convenient to bring home as gifts. When choosing to buy, check the labels and expiration dates carefully. It is best to visit large stalls and ask detailed questions about product information to ensure quality.
4. Guide to getting around and tips for visiting Cho Han Da Nang
4.1. How to get to Cho Han Da Nang
Cho Han is located right in the center of Da Nang city. Thanks to its convenient location, visitors have many options to easily get to the market. Taxis or ride-hailing services are convenient options for groups of 2-5 people. If you want to explore independently, visitors can rent a motorbike at a price of about 100,000 - 150,000 VND/day. Cho Han has a spacious parking lot right next door, making parking very convenient. Budget travelers can use buses, with many routes stopping near the market, passing through Bach Dang, Tran Phu, and Nguyen Van Linh streets.
For those staying around the city center or along the Han River, walking to Cho Han is also very convenient. It only takes visitors about 5 - 15 minutes to get to the market. This allows you to enjoy the city scenery while saving on transportation costs. Currently, Cho Han has become an easily accessible shopping destination, suitable for all types of tourists.
4.2. Ideal times and things to note when visiting
The ideal time to visit Cho Han is in the morning from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM or early afternoon from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. These are times when the market is lively but not overcrowded, allowing you to move around, visit, and choose products easily. The market is open from 6 AM to 10 PM every day, however, many stalls start cleaning up and closing around 7 PM. If you want to enjoy the bustling atmosphere and the widest selection of goods, you should arrive before 7 PM.
The dry season from April to September is the most favorable time to visit thanks to the dry and cool weather. This time is very suitable for strolling through the market and enjoying local cuisine. On weekends or holidays, the number of visitors and shoppers is quite large, so you should also arrange your time to visit Cho Han most comfortably.
Tourists should pay attention to safeguarding their belongings when visiting Han Market Da Nang. (Source: Collected)
When visiting the market, you should pay attention to personal security and property, especially in crowded areas. Carry only enough money, avoid revealing cash or valuables, and keep your phone and bag secure when moving between stalls. Especially, check the product quality carefully before buying, particularly for food, fresh seafood, and local specialties. Asking for the price before buying and being able to negotiate gently is also an experience that helps you shop more reasonably, especially when you want to buy in large quantities.
4.3. Shopping tips at Han Market
To have a great and economical shopping experience at Han Market Da Nang, you should note some important tips. First, take time to compare prices at different stalls before deciding to buy. Because the same product can have significantly different prices between stalls. Additionally, at Han Market, bargaining is very common and should be done flexibly and politely. Usually, you can offer 20–30% less than the initial price the seller offers to get a reasonable price.
When choosing to buy specialties or food, prioritize stalls with many customers and clear packaging and labels. Carefully check the quality and expiration date to avoid buying substandard goods. If you need to buy in large quantities as gifts, you should ask for wholesale prices and negotiate directly with the stall owner for better deals. Especially for items like clothing and accessories, choose stalls with price lists to limit 'price gouging' and avoid hassle during bargaining.
Finally, making a list of items to buy before going to the market will help you save time, control your spending reasonably, and avoid impulse purchases. When visiting Han Market, don't forget to ask the seller about the origin and usage of products to better understand Da Nang's specialties and local culture.
5. Suggested 1-day itinerary to experience Han Market and Da Nang tourist attractions
A day in Da Nang will be truly complete if you combine entertainment at famous spots with exploring the local culture. The itinerary can start early in the morning with a visit to Sun World Ba Na Hills. Here, visitors can admire the world-famous Golden Bridge, stroll through the ancient French Village. Especially enjoy the fresh air and find beautiful photo opportunities.
Sun World Ba Na Hills is a fun suggestion for your trip to Da Nang. (Source: Collection)
The afternoon is the ideal time to return to the city center and visit Han Market, the busiest traditional market in Da Nang. Visitors can stroll through colorful rows of stalls, enjoy local delicacies such as Mi Quang, spring rolls with mustard greens, sweet soup, or avocado ice cream. Additionally, you can visit the market to buy specialties like dried squid, Nam O fish sauce, tre (fermented pork roll), or dried seafood as gifts.
As the sun sets, you can leisurely stroll along the Han River, admire the Love Bridge, and take photos with the Carp-Dragon statue. If you visit on the weekend, don't miss the fire and water show from the Dragon Bridge at 9 PM. This is an interesting experience to conclude the long day.
Han Market Da Nang stands out thanks to its central location, architecture that is both modern and traditional, the richness of its specialties, and authentic Central Vietnamese cuisine. This is an ideal destination for every journey to explore Da Nang in 2025. You can combine the experience of Han Market with famous attractions such as Sun World Ba Na Hills, Dragon Bridge, and My Khe Beach for a complete and impressive trip.